Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Parenting Through Divorce

Divorce can be completely devastating for everyone involved, but adults are generally more able to cope with a breakup than the children who are caught in the crossfire. If you aren’t careful, your kids can become seriously distressed when your marriage breaks down. That’s why it is so important that you step up your parenting game and fo, even more, to keep your kids safe, healthy and happy during and after a divorce.

If you’re getting divorced and you’re not sure how best you can support your kids through the ordeal, and make it, so it isn’t so much of an ordeal after all, here are some useful tips:

Keep it Amicable

The best thing you can do for your kids and yourself is to keep your divorce amicable. You should probably still hire divorce lawyers like Austin Kemp Solicitors to handle the proceedings, just because it’s simpler and more efficient that way, but you should resolve with your partner not to argue, fight or play dirty because, in the end, it will only hurt you and the kids. You should be particularly careful not to argue in front of the children who will be anxious enough as it is knowing that their small world is about to change forever.

Be Nice

On a related note, you should never stoop to bad mouthing your ex to the kids or talking about him in a derogatory way when your kids are around. All this will do is upset them, and it could even cause the relationship between them to breakdown. That might not seem like such a bad thing when you’re going through a divorce, and you don’t like your ex much, but you will end up regretting it because it will damage your kids.

Where it is at all possible, you should always ensure that your children have access to both parents. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should split your time equally with them - and that might not be practical - but your kids should know that they can and will see both of you on a regular basis, so they don’t have to worry about that.

Reassure Them

It’s not uncommon for children to think that it’s their fault that their parents’ marriage has broken up. You need to reassure them that isn’t the case perhaps by explaining your reasons for divorce in the simplest, most child-friendly way as possible. You should also both take the time to reassure them that you both still love them and no matter what else happens that will never change.

Be Prepared for Future Questions

As kids get older, they often have more questions about your divorce. You need to be prepared for this, and willing to answer any and all questions they may have even if it’s five years down the line from now. The more open you are, the easier it will be for your kids to understand and respect your divorce without blaming themselves in any way.

Do these things, and keep your kids’ lives as normal as you possibly can, and they will get through the divorce okay, as will you!